January 1
Inshore water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the low 50s, and the water is seasonably clear.
There’s good action to be found in the Little River area, where Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the trout bite is the best thing going. They are catching trout along the ledges as well as out at the Little River jetties, and both live mud minnows and Vudu Shrimp are working well.
Redfish have also been very welling to eat, and Captain Smiley’s boats are catching a lot of bigger fish over the slot. Mud minnows fished under a popping cork have been productive around oysters beds, docks and grass edges in the IntraCoastal. Fish are schooled up tight and the best action has been on the incoming tide.